Pirates Surge Past Bakersfield, Remain Unbeaten

The No. 2-ranked Pirate volleyball team surged past visiting Bakersfield Wednesday, sweeping the renegades 25-21, 25-20, 25-15 at the Athletic Event Center. Kayla Murdoch was dominant at the net with 24 kills while hitting .606. Amelie Zubia handed out 22 assists. Autumn Rojelio Moreno recorded 19 digs as VC moved to 11-0 on the season.

The first set was a battle with the Renegades taking the early advantage. Murdoch hit the kill to tie the score at 10 before breaking a 13-13 deadlock with another kill and a pair of blocks at the net. A service ace from Zubia and another smash by Murdoch precipitated a BC timeout, and the Renegades rallied to close to within 23-21. Murdoch answered with a kill and BC attacked long on set point as Ventura captured the opener, 25-21.

Bakersfield opened the second set with a 7-3 advantage prompting a Pirate timeout. VC trailed 11-6 before Katey Mulville hit a winner and Nevada Knowles served a pair of aces to begin the turnaround. Rojelio served six straight points as Ventura went ahead 16-14, and Brianna Morrison's kill helped the Pirates to a 21-18 margin. Murdoch hit the winner into an attempted BC block and Ventura won the second set 25-20.

The Pirates trailed 10-7 in the third set before Rojelio sparked another run with five service winners. VC maintained the roll, moving ahead 20-13 before Averi Carter recorded the kill on match point to complete the sweep 20-16 in the third.

Mulville totaled six kills on the night while Morrison had five. Knowles handed out 18 assists with three service aces and Carter recorded 10 digs.

Ventura next travels to Citrus on Friday Sept. 24 in their final non-conference match before Western State Conference North Division play opens.